Get your umbrellas ready! The 2007 Orchard in Bloom Garden Show is here!

The Orchard in Bloom Garden Show, hosted at Holliday Park from April 26 to 29 will entertain Broad Ripple with an array of horticultural wonders. To prepare for the always possible rain, chairpersons this year have prepared for a downpour or two by tenting the whole event.

For its 18th year, the Garden Show is bringing back classics and showing off new exhibits - and a fresh new logo. - all just in time to help you get geared up for Spring!

Starting with the "Before the Bloom" Preview Party on Thursday April 26, guests will get a first look at this year's blooms. From 6:00pm to 8:30pm, you can sample fares from local restaurants, wine and champagne, and enjoy music while shopping the gardens and mingling with guests. Honorary Chair Patty Wilkins and Feature Artist Beth Forst are sure to make an appearance too. Door prizes will be provided by Agio's, Big Hat Books, French Rose Garden, Fresh Market, G. Thrapp Jewelers, The Garden Retreat Bed & Breakfast, Five Seasons Country Club, Heal Thy Self & Co., and Vein Solutions. Tickets to the Preview Party are $45.

The main event begins Friday, April 27 at 9:00am, with special extended hours this year for Family Night. Family Night, 5:00pm - 8:00pm on Friday, encourages the whole family to come out and enjoy the show together. Activities for kids are highlighted: a puppet show, Mother's Day craft activity, cookie decorating, and hip hop dance lessons will keep the kids entertained. Parents will be able to choose from a variety of activities as well. The Artists' Tent, the Garden Pavilion, Gardner's Market, Rooms in Bloom, an FloralScapes will all be open during the extended hours.

The Artists' Tent, new this year, is devoted exclusively to the fine arts. Housing mostly local and regional artists, this tent will focus on the higher-end art selections. You can also check out this year's Feature Artist, Beth Forst, in the Artists' Tent. Her selections of oil paintings of floral and still life are guaranteed to put you in mood for spring. And, known for painting "en plein air", Forst is likely to be seen out in the gardens sans tent doing what she does best. Weather permitting, of course!

The Garden Pavilion will provide inspiration from renowned local landscape designers. The Gardner's Market will offer garden art, furniture, herbs and plants from regional and national exhibitors. Handcrafted clothing and gifts can be purchased as well.

Rooms in Bloom will showcase the new trends for patio and porch living. Designed by local interior designers, each display will incorporate the latest styles with the hottest blooms.

FloralScapes captures the inspiration of works of art from the Indianapolis Museum of Art in floral arrangements. Floral designers prepare arrangements based on beautiful works from the IMA.

Throughout the show, you'll notice another new addition: Sculptures in Bloom. Use these sculptures as inspiration on how to use large sculptures in your own garden.

A large community-based event, Orchard in Bloom is the major fun-raising event of the Parents' Association of The Orchard School. Proceeds support not only the school's endeavors, but also improvements and outdoor education programs at Holliday Park. "We feel that it's so important to give back to the community, especially to Holliday Park. And [volunteering at] this event sets such a good example for our kids," says Paula Deemer, one of six chairpersons this year.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at reduced prices at Marsh Supermarkets, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, The National Bank of Indianapolis, Holliday Park, and the Orchard School. Group Tickets are also available. Tickets can also be purchased during the event at the gate. Children 14 and under are free.

Free parking is available at Second Presbyterian Church - 7700 N. Meridian Street. A shuttle will run continuously throughout the event. Guests are encouraged to use this parking feature.

For additional information, please visit www.orchardinbloom.org. Orchard in Bloom's website also has details on this year's honorary chair, Patty Wilkins, and information on their corporate sponsor, National Bank of Indianapolis. Information on The Orchard School can be found at www.orchard.org or by contacting Ginger Bievenour at 317.713.5765.